The Bard's Tale Trilogy

When it gets good

Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.

before it gets good opening up fully opened up

Based on all 1,578 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 286 reviews: 16.9h for positive, 5h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.

Where players quit

Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (59.3% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.

Story milestones aren't labeled yet; all achievements are listed below.

All achievements (47)

• Roleplaying Create your first character. 100%
• Dean's List Be promoted at the review board for the first time. 65%
• Skara Brae Shopaholic Purchase services at an inn, a temple, Garth's and Roscoe's. 57%
• A Good Year Find the wine cellar. 51%
• Something's Smelly Enter the sewers. 47%
• A Song of Only Fire Use a fire horn. 45%
• I'm 'armless! Disarm 50 traps. 41%
• Apprentice Level a character to level 10. 41%
• The Magic Word Enter the catacombs. 37%
• Storm the Gates Enter Harkyn's Castle. 37%
• Retirement Planning for Heroes Make your first deposit at the bank. 37%
• Hit Me! Win a hand of blackjack at the casino. 34%
• Gold Digger Amass 100,000 gold coins. 33%
• Nemesis Win 500 battles. 28%
• Art Critic Destroy every statue in Skara Brae. 28%
• Livin’ La Vida Bard’s Tale Purchase services at Garth’s, Roscoe’s, an inn, and a temple, advance a character at the Review Board, make a deposit at the bank, and play a round at the casino. 23%
• Crystal Clear Defeat the Crystal Golem. 22%
• Journeyman Level a character to level 25. 21%
• The Mage's Tale Learn all 7 levels of spells for Conjurer, Magician, Sorcerer and Wizard with one character. 21%
• Endgame Enter Mangar's Tower. 21%
• Heroes of Skara Brae Complete Tales of the Unknown by defeating Mangar and rescuing Skara Brae. 16%
• A Shattered Dream Visit the ruins of Skara Brae. 14%
• Knight in Shining Armor Conquer the Dark Domain. 12%
• Weapon of Legend Acquire the Spectre Snare 12%
• Citizens of Caith Visit each city. 11%
• The Battle is Joined Gain your first piece of the Destiny Wand. 11%
• Storm the Gates (Again)! Enter Fanskar’s Fortress. 10%
• Master Level a character to level 50. 9.3%
• The Archmage’s Tale Master all magic levels of the Archmage class. 8.8%
• A Fallen Hero Enter the home of Saradon. 8.1%
• Turning Point Acquire over half of the Destiny Wand pieces. 6.7%
• A Matter of Time Create a Chronomancer. 5.9%
• Elven Intrigue Complete your quest in Arboria. 5.2%
• Liberators of Caith Complete The Destiny Knight by defeating Lagoth Zanta and his invading force. 4.9%
• The Destiny Knight Forge the Destiny Wand. 4.9%
• A Hundred Years From Now Uncover the final prophecy of Longinus the Mad. 4.7%
• Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold Complete your quest in Gelidia. 4.7%
• Tomb Raider Complete your quest in Lucencia. 4.4%
• Enter Sandman Cast the Dreamspell for the first time. 4.2%
• Let My Armies Be The Rocks And The Trees And The Birds In The Sky Create a Geomancer. 4.2%
• Blade Runner Complete your quest in Kinestia. 4.2%
• Twilight of the Gods Cast NUKE for the first time. 4.0%
• War Never Changes Complete your quest in Tarmitia. 4.0%
• Nowhere Man Complete your quest in Tenebrosia. 4.0%
• All The Stars In The Sky Complete Thief of Fate by defeating the Mad God and ascending to godhood in the heavens above. 3.5%
• Thief of Fate Strike the killing blow against Tarjan with a rogue. 3.5%
• Wisdom of a Kind Gain 30 unique pieces of insight from the Sage. 3.0%